Chapters (93)
- Cover
- Dedication
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Sixty-Five
- Sixty-Six
- Sixty-Seven
- Sixty-Eight
- Sixty-Nine
- Seventy
- Seventy-One
- Seventy-Two
- Seventy-Three
- Seventy-Four
- Seventy-Five
- Seventy-Six
- Seventy-Seven
- Seventy-Eight
- Seventy-Nine
- Eighty
- Eighty-One
- Eighty-Two
- Eighty-Three
- Eighty-Four
- Eighty-Five
- Author’s Note
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
- Books by Kelly Yang
- Back Ad
- About the Publisher
“Dani!” I shout. Dani turns around. I see Florence with Ming! The girls let out a big cheer as I step out of the Uber.
“We thought you weren’t coming!” Dani says.
“I’m here now!” I say. Dani hugs me, followed by Florence and Ming, and I quickly introduce myself to Bree. It’s crazy seeing us all together, knowing what we’re about to do. I inhale deeply, letting the empowerment expand in my lungs.
I know the odds are stacked against us, if we go to trial, Jay and the school will outspend us, the media shitstorm will squeeze us, the jury will question us. Still, there’s something so powerful about ripping up the two-million-dollar offer and marching through those doors. To be able to take back control and not let any person, school, or trauma dictate my life—that’s why I came to America. I slip my hand in Dani’s, who joins hands with Bree. One by one, we all join hands. As we walk together to the police station, my heart beats with the power of five.
The police officers look up at us as we walk in. We tell them we’re here to file a complaint. A young officer named Officer Torrence comes rushing out of his office and introduces himself. He leads us into a conference room.
“Thank you all so much for coming in,” he says. “About six months ago, I received an anonymous tip from one of the teachers at American Prep saying there was misconduct at the school. I’ve been investigating the case, but I never had any idea of the magnitude.” He looks to Dani. “Until I heard Dani’s speech.”
Officer Torrence puts us in a waiting room and takes us individually to get our statement. Bree Johnson, the UCLA senior, goes first. While we wait, Florence and Ming and I chat about their app. Ming says it’s for parachutes and host families.
“That’s amazing,” I tell them. I tilt my head at Dani, jokingly asking her what she’d rate me.
“I’d give you one star for keeping your room clean,” she teases, to which I protest, “Hey!”
Then Dani looks at me, more serious. “And five stars for bravery.”
I smile.
Officer Torrence walks out. “Claire,” he calls. “You’re next. Are you ready?”
I get up from my chair. I look over at Dani, who squeezes my hand and mouths, You can do this as I walk by and follow Officer Torrence into the interview room.
When it’s over, we walk out of the police station together. We hug goodbye, promising to text the minute we hear anything. Bree drives back to UCLA, while Ming and Florence get in an Uber to go back to Florence’s place. Dani offers me a ride home, and I hop into Dani’s mom’s Toyota Celica.